Saint Michael the Archangel
Who is Saint Michael the Archangel?
Michael's name means "Who is like God?" — traditionally read as a challenge thrown at the pride of the rebel angels who set themselves up as God's equals. He is one of only a handful of angels named directly in the Bible, alongside Gabriel and (in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions) Raphael.
The Book of Daniel describes Michael as "one of the chief princes" sent to protect Israel (Daniel 10:13, NIV), and later as "the great prince who protects your people" (Daniel 12:1, NIV). By the time the Book of Revelation was written, his role had grown into something even larger: the commander of the angels who "fought against the dragon" and cast the ancient serpent out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-9, NIV).
Why the sword and the scales?
Christian art has depicted Michael with a sword since at least the early medieval period, visualizing his role as the leader of the heavenly armies described in Revelation. The scales are a later addition to his iconography, tied to a tradition — not a specific Bible passage — that pictures Michael weighing souls at the moment of judgment, balancing their deeds.
Guido Reni's 1636 painting, shown above, brings both symbols together: Michael standing triumphant, sword raised, over a defeated figure at his feet — a composition that became one of the most copied images of the archangel in Western art.
Why people turn to Saint Michael today
Because his story is fundamentally about protection — of Israel in Daniel, of heaven itself in Revelation — Michael has become the angel most associated with guarding a home, a family, or a threshold. That's part of why his image remains one of the most requested pieces of sacred art: it's less a decoration than a quiet, standing reminder of watchfulness.
